# յիմար
## Old Armenian
### Etymology

Usually considered a word of unknown origin. Patrubány (apud Ačaṙean) and Urišean derive from Arabic حِمَار (ḥimār, “donkey”), however this is rejected by Ačaṙean because the word is attested already in the 5th century, when Armenian had no contact with Arabic yet.
More likely borrowed from Aramaic אִימְּרָא / אִמְּרָא (ʾimmərā) / ܐܶܡܪܳܐ (ʾemmərā, “lamb”), absolute state אִימַּר / אִמַּר (ʾimmar) / ܐܶܡܱܪ (ʾemmar), which has the same meaning as the Armenian adjective in Arabic إِمَّر (ʔimmar) borrowed from it, vouching for the popularity of the meaning “simple-minded, simpleton” of this word for “lamb” in lesser-known Aramaic lects, the consonantism of which is illustrated by variants like Classical Syriac ܝܗܠܐ (yahlā) for the ʾahlā in the other Aramaics, or the general observation that under the disguise of conservative spellings the initial consonants ʾ (/ʔ/) and y (/j/) were prone to be dropped, the former a universal trend towards Neo-Aramaic, Punic and modern Ethiopian Semitic, the latter as well evidenced early enough by Arabic هُود (hūd) for يَهُود (yahūd, “Jews”).

### Adjective

յիմար • (yimar)
* foolish [since 5th c.]
    Synonyms: անմիտ (anmit), շամբուշ (šambuš), պակասամիտ (pakasamit), ախմար (axmar), տխմար (txmar), մորոս (moros), ռակայ (ṙakay)
** 5th century, Bible, Deuteronomy 32.6:Զա՞յդ Տեառն հատուցանէք այդպէս, ժողովուրդ յիմար եւ ոչ իմաստուն․ ո՞չ նա է Հայրն որ ստացաւ զքեզ, արար զքեզ եւ հաստատեաց զքեզ։Za$^?$yd Teaṙn hatucʻanēkʻ aydpēs, žołovurd yimar ew očʻ imastun; o$^?$čʻ na ē Hayrn or stacʻaw zkʻez, arar zkʻez ew hastateacʻ zkʻez.Translation by King James BibleDo ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? [Is] not he thy father [that] hath bought thee? Hath he not made thee, and established thee.

#### Derived terms

* յիմարաբար (yimarabar)
* յիմարական (yimarakan)
* յիմարակորոյս (yimarakoroys)
* յիմարամիտ (yimaramit)
* յիմարանամ (yimaranam)
* յիմարարար (yimararar)
* յիմարացուցանեմ (yimaracʻucʻanem)
* յիմարեմ (yimarem)
* յիմարեցուցանեմ (yimarecʻucʻanem)
* յիմարիմ (yimarim)
* յիմարութիւն (yimarutʻiwn)
* յիմարումն (yimarumn)

#### Descendants

* Armenian: հիմար (himar)
* Middle Armenian: իմար (imar)

### References

* 1 2 Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1977) “յիմար”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, volume III, Yerevan: University Press, page 398b
* ↑ Olsen, Birgit Anette (1999) The noun in Biblical Armenian: origin and word-formation: with special emphasis on the Indo-European heritage (Trends in linguistics. Studies and monographs; 119), Berlin, New York: Mouton de Gruyter, page 964
* ↑ Urišean, Vardgēs (1998) “յիմար”, in Mer armatnerə nor loysi tak [Our Root Words Under New Light] (in Armenian), volume II, Fresno: Meshag Printing & Publishing, page 73b

### Further reading

* Awetikʻean, G., Siwrmēlean, X., Awgerean, M. (1836–1837) “յիմար”, in Nor baṙgirkʻ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
* J̌ahukyan, Geworg (2010) “յիմար”, in Vahan Sargsyan, editor, Hayeren stugabanakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), Yerevan: Asoghik, page 552b, tentatively suggesting inheritance from Proto-Indo-European *i(n)-mr̥-, from *mer- (“to bother, anger, neglect, forget”)
* Ġazarean, Ṙubēn (2006) “յիմար”, in Grabari homanišneri baṙaran [Dictionary of Old Armenian Synonyms], Yerevan: University Press
* Petrosean, Matatʻeay (1879) “յիմար”, in Nor Baṙagirkʻ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy